Mayor Uesada travelled from Matsue — a historic city in western Japan — accompanied by several senior municipal officials to the Tramore attraction, including directors from the areas of international tourism, cultural promotion and industry development. Also part of the group was Ethan O’Brien, an Irish coordinator supporting cultural relations between Matsue and Ireland.
Matsue holds particular relevance for Irish visitors: it is the city where Irish‑Greek writer Lafcadio Hearn lived during his years in Japan (1890–1904). Hearn, considered one of the most influential figures in introducing Japanese culture to the West, remains celebrated in both countries.
The gardens, opened in 2015, were created to tell the story of Japan’s most famous Irishman and have since become one of the leading tourist attractions in the south‑east, known for their seasonal events, cultural workshops and distinctive landscape design.
The visiting delegation was welcomed by local representatives including the Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr Seamus Ryan, Senator Joe Conway, councillors Lola O’Sullivan and Sandra Conway, members of the garden’s board, and staff.
A guided tour, led by head guide Keith Guinan, highlighted the many elements within the gardens inspired by Hearn’s time in Matsue — from traditional planting to symbolic features reflecting Japanese folklore and landscapes. For Irish visitors unfamiliar with Japanese gardens, these spaces typically combine water features, stone paths, and carefully composed planting designed to evoke tranquillity and storytelling.
Following the tour, the delegation met with staff and were given a preview of the new Kokoro Café and Cultural Centre, an addition designed to further develop the gardens as a hub for Japanese‑Irish cultural exchange. ‘Kokoro’ is a Japanese word that can be translated as ‘heart’ or ‘spirit’, often used to describe emotional connection or sincerity — a concept central to the gardens’ mission.
Cllr Ryan welcomed the visitors on behalf of Waterford, emphasising how the gardens have become a focal point for deepening Irish‑Japanese cultural ties.
Mayor Uesada expressed his gratitude for the warm reception and said the delegation hoped to explore future collaboration between Matsue City, the Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens and the new Kokoro Cultural Centre. The possibility of expanding cultural programmes, exchange initiatives and tourism links was discussed during the visit.
The visit was also viewed as an important opportunity to strengthen economic and tourism connections between Japan and the south‑east. Waterford tourism officials say the international profile of the gardens — already a draw for visitors from Asia, Europe and the US — offers significant potential for growth.
The Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens continue to attract wide interest for their blend of storytelling, landscape design and cross‑cultural heritage — and this latest visit marks another step in placing Tramore on the international map.
AloJapan.com